My Breast Cancer Story

By Irena Koprivcic

My name is Irena Koprivcic, I have 52 years of age. I live in West Auckland with my husband and son Danijel. My elder son and daughter in law with
my granddaughter Mia and grandson Luka all live on North Shore.

In October 2006 I went for the first time for a mammogram and they found a lump in by left breast. Following the discovery of the lump they performed an ultrasound and a biopsy to confirm and diagnose it was breast cancer.

It was a big shock for me and my family, as I previously never had any health issues, but I gathered all my strength and decided to fight against this difficult and diabolical sickness.

This did not come by easy, but with huge help and support from my husband, children, friends and colleagues from my work I pushed successfully through the two hardest years of my life.

Soon after breast cancer was found I had my operation to remove the tumor and the sentinel node. We waited eagerly to hear the results from the sentinel lymph node which came up clear of any disease indicating my lymph nodes were clean.

Following my operation came the first round of chemotherapy, then the second, followed by radiotherapy and after that a year long treatment of Herceptin.

I did not know much about Herceptin so I read up most of the information off the internet and in the newspapers. However the best information about it comes from the women who have received Herceptin treatment and who can share their experience with others.

Therapy by Herceptin was far easier and painless then I thought which may also be why it is so expensive and inaccessible to most women. There were days I was very depressed and I spoke to my Oncologist a lot who helped me so much to mentally overcome my anxieties. In the worst of times I found that my grandchildren offered me the biggest strength of all after my recovery and due to whom I have realized I need to live a long time and turn to all round positive thinking.

This is why I have joined the fight for the government to fund Herceptin for a year for all those women who are HER2+ and need this remarkable medicine. New Zealand will then be another country joined in the fight against breast cancer alongside many other countries that already fund Herceptin therapy for a full year.

I hope my story along with other women fighting for their lives and against this dreadful disease will help others who may be in need of support and be going through the toughest stages in their fight against breast cancer. I hope you find support here and know that you are not alone in your fight and that we will fight along side you. We all deserve to win this fight.